John McCain on Education

Republican nominee for President; Senior Senator (AZ)

Achieved equality in schools; but failing schools don’t help

McCAIN: [Education reform] is the civil rights issue of the 21st century. There’s no doubt that we have achieved equal access to schools in America after a long and difficult and terrible struggle. But what is the advantage in a low income area of
sending a child to a failed school and that being your only choice?

So choice and competition amongst schools is one of the key elements that’s already been proven in places in like New Orleans and New York City and other places, where we have
charter schools, where we take good teachers and we reward them and promote them. And we find bad teachers another line of work.

We have to be able to give parents the same choice, frankly, that Sen. Obama and Mrs. Obama had and Cindy and
I had to send our kids & their kids to the school of their choice.

Charter schools aren’t the only answer, but they’re providing competition. They are providing the kind of competitions that have upgraded both types of schools.

I want schools to answer to parents and students

Education is the civil rights issue of this century. Equal access to public education has been gained. But what is the value of access to a failing school? We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice.
Let’s remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good teachers, and help bad teachers find another line of work. When a public school fails to meet the -- its obligations to students -- when it fails to meet its obligations to students,
parents deserve a choice in the education of their children, and I intend to give it to them. Some may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private one. Many will choose a charter school. But they will have the choice and their children
will have that opportunity. Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureaucrats. I want schools to answer to parents and students. And when I’m president, they will.

Pay bonuses to teachers in the most troubled schools

We will pay bonuses to teachers who take on the challenge of working in our most troubled schools--because we need their fine minds and good hearts to help turn those schools around. We will award bonuses as well to our highest-achieving teachers. And no
longer will we measure teacher achievement by conformity to process. We will measure it by the success of their students. Moreover, the funds for these bonuses will not be controlled by faraway officials. Under my reforms, we will entrust both the funds
and the responsibilities where they belong in the office of the school principal. One reason that charter schools are so successful, and so sought-after by parents, is that principals have spending discretion. And I intend to give that same discretion
to public school principals. No longer will money be spent in service to rigid and often meaningless formulas. Relying on the good judgment and first-hand knowledge of school principals, education money will be spent in service to public school students.

Target funding to recruit top graduates as teachers

I will target funding to recruit teachers who graduate in the top 25 percent of their class, or who participate in an alternative teacher recruitment program such as
Teach for America, the American Board for Teacher Excellence, and the New Teacher Project.

Source: McCain-Obama speeches at 99th NAACP Convention
, Jul 12, 2008

Direct $750 million to build virtual schools

I propose to direct $500 million to build new virtual schools and to support the development of online courses for students. Through competitive grants, we will allocate another $250 million to support state programs expanding education opportunities,
including the creation of public virtual charter schools. States can use these funds to build virtual math and science academies to help expand the availability of Advanced Placement courses, online tutoring, and foreign language courses.

Source: McCain-Obama speeches at 99th NAACP Convention
, Jul 12, 2008

Give parents easier access to obtain help for their children

Under my reforms parents will exercise freedom of choice in obtaining extra help for children falling behind. Federal aid to parents for tutoring for their children has to go through another bureaucracy. They can’t purchase the tutoring directly, without
having to deal with the same education establishment that failed their children in the first place. These needless restrictions will be removed. If a student needs extra help, parents will be able to sign them up to get it, with direct public support.

Source: McCain-Obama speeches at 99th NAACP Convention
, Jul 12, 2008

Shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition

In the global economy what you learn is what you earn. Today, half of Latinos and half of African Americans entering high school will never graduate. By the 12th grade, U.S. students in math and science score near the bottom of all industrialized nations

Many parents fear their children won’t have the same opportunities they had. That is simply unacceptable in a country as great as ours. In many schools, particularly where people are struggling the hardest, the situation is dire, and
I believe poses the civil rights challenge of our time. We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition; hold schools accountable for results; strengthen math, science, technology and engineering curriculums;
empower parents with choice; remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward superior teachers, and have a fair but sure process to weed out incompetents.

View has evolved on intelligent design vs. evolution

In a 2005 interview, McCain revealed his evolving views on "intelligent design," a pseudoscientific notion devised by creationists as a tool to undermine the teaching of evolution. In 2000, McCain had declared that the teaching of intelligent design was
matter for local school boards to decide, in contrast to George W. Bush's belief that creationism itself should be taught in classrooms. In 2005, however, McCain expressed more openness to the idea of intelligent design, saying that "different schools of
thought" about the origins of mankind should be presented to students.

Contrary to McCain's claim, the scientific community has in fact rejected intelligent design as a credible scientific theory. In 2002, the American Association for the Advancement o
Science published a resolution in which the organization determined that proponents of intelligent design had "failed to offer credible scientific evidence to support their claim that intelligent design undermines the accepted theory of evolution."

Endorses teaching intelligent design in schools

Meaningless social-policy gestures of the type McCain used to savage on the campaign trail--the senator now, for instance,
endorses the teaching of intelligent design in public schools, even though the chances of a president having any effect on school curricula are as remote as dinosaurs coming back to life.

Source: The Myth of a Maverick, by Matt Welch, p.186
, Oct 9, 2007

Teaching creationism should be decided by school districts

Q: Do you believe creationism should be taught alongside evolution in the nation’s schools?

No, I believe that’s up to the school districts. But I think that every American should be exposed to all theories. There’s no doubt in my mind that the hand of
God was in what we are today. And I do believe that we are unique, and I believe that God loves us. But I also believe that all of our children in school can be taught different views on different issues. I leave the curricula up to the school boards.

Source: 2007 GOP debate at Saint Anselm College
, Jun 3, 2007

Believes in evolution, but sees the hand of God in nature

Q: Do you believe in evolution?

McCAIN: Yes.

Q: I’m curious, is there anybody on the stage that does not agree, believe in evolution?

[TANCREDO, HUCKABEE, and
BROWNBACK raise their hands, indicating that they do not believe in evolution].

McCAIN: I believe in evolution. But I also believe, when I hike the Grand Canyon and see it at sunset, that the hand of God is there also.

Against nationally imposed standards & funding strings

Q: Should federal money be linked to how well students perform on national or statewide tests? A: I do not favor nationally imposed standards or federal funding strings. State and local education agencies should be responsible for developing & enforcing
high academic standards. I don’t believe we should penalize students by taking away limited education dollars according to federal dictates. Such strings would invariably require states to spend even more money on federally imposed bureaucratic
requirements-money that would be better spent in the classroom. I propose sending education funding directly to classrooms rather than having it siphoned off by federal and state bureaucracies. If this funding flows to classrooms that continue to fail,
the state should have the authority to allow students to use that funding directly for programs that best meet their academic needs. Empowering parents and students through educational choice and competition is the surest path to academic excellence.

Source: Associated Press
, Feb 23, 2000

Teach virtues in all schools

I walked into a charter school classroom in Phoenix. On the desk was a children’s book of virtues. The teacher was teaching the virtue of the month, which happened to be the importance of telling the truth. We need to inject that in all of our charter
schools and in schools all over America. I would provide the much needed tax breaks that are necessary to encourage them. I would certainly make them part of any voucher program, a test voucher program which I would not take out of education funds.

Source: Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate
, Dec 7, 1999

Enlist retirees for tutoring

McCain wants to create a pool of military veterans, retirees and others who would tutor students in math, science and English. “You really need to have a lot more people helping kids get their education,” McCain said. Tutors can help reinforce
the message that education is important and give students the support they need to succeed, McCain said. If tutors aren’t available in some neighborhoods, the Internet may be able to link them with students, he said.

Source: Associated Press
, Nov 22, 1999

Good teachers should earn more than bad lawyers

Q: How can we attract the best and the brightest teachers, given the current salaries? A: I don’t see why a good teacher should be paid less money than a bad senator. It’s important that we have merit pay for teachers, that we have teacher testing, that
we do everything we can to motivate young men and women to enter this profession. There’s a whole generation that’s retiring. It is unconscionable that the average salary of a lawyer is $79,000 a year and the average salary of a teacher is $39,000 a year

Source: Republican Debate at Dartmouth College
, Oct 29, 1999

Decisions on teaching evolution should be made locally

On teaching evolution in schools, McCain says the decision should be made at the local level.

Source: Bruce Morton, CNN
, Aug 27, 1999

Help unqualified teachers find other lines of work

McCain feels that each and every child in every classroom deserves a teacher who is qualified and enthusiastic about teaching. “Some people just aren’t meant to be teachers, and we should help them find another line of work. Because if teachers can’t
teach, our kids can’t learn.”

Source: McCain for President web Site
, Jul 2, 1999

Supports tax-free savings accounts for education expenses

McCain co-sponsored the Education A-Plus bill in 1997 (which Clinton vetoed) and again in 1999, to allow parents to open tax-free savings accounts for their children’s educational expenses - including tutoring, computers, and tuition.

Source: McCain for President web Site
, Jul 2, 1999

Supports “Reading Excellence”; and rewarding good schools

1989: Co-sponsored the Educational Excellence Act , to recognize and reward
schools, teachers, and students for their outstanding achievements; enhance parental choice; and encourage the study of science, mathematics, and engineering.

Internet access, with filters, at every school & library

McCain seeks high-speed Internet access for every school, but suggested requiring filtering software for all public school and library computers as a way to keep children from potentially harmful Internet sites.

Source: Associated Press
, Jun 14, 1999

Merit pay & competency testing for teachers

Also promoted merit-based pay for teachers, calling higher teacher salaries an “urgent necessity.” But he added that teachers should be tested for competence periodically and fired if they don’t meet certain standards.

Ed-ACT Bill: college plans; language proficiency

Return control of our children’s education to parents, teachers, and local communities

Help schools hire and retain quality teachers

Provide more
opportunities for disadvantaged children

Increase parents’ options to save for their children’s higher education

Encourage proficiency in English plus other languages in order to increase our competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Source: www.mccain2000.com/ “Position Papers” 5/24/99
, May 24, 1999

John McCain on School Choice

Vouchers in DC work; parents wait in line for them

OBAMA: Sen. McCain and I actually agree on charter schools. I think it’s important to foster competition inside the public schools. Where we disagree is on the idea that we can somehow give out vouchers as a way of securing the problems in our education
system.

McCAIN: I’m sure you’re aware, Sen. Obama, of the program in the Washington, D.C., school system where vouchers are provided and there’s a certain number, I think it’s a thousand and some and some 9,000 parents asked to be eligible for that.
Because they wanted to have the same choice that you and I and Cindy and your wife have had. And that is because they wanted to choose the school that they thought was best for their children. And we all know the state of the Washington,
D.C., school system. That was vouchers, Sen. Obama. And I’m frankly surprised you didn’t pay more attention to that example.

OBAMA: The D.C. school system is in terrible shape, and it has been for a very long time.

Vouchers and school choice for all

Over the years, Americans have heard a lot of “tired rhetoric” about education. We’ve heard it in the endless excuses of people who seem more concerned about their own position than about our children. We’ve heard it from politicians who accept the statu
quo rather than stand up for real change in our public schools.

Parents ask only for schools that are safe, teachers who are competent, and diplomas that open doors of opportunity. When a public system fails, repeatedly, to meet these minimal
objectives, parents ask only for a choice in the education of their children. Some parents may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private school. Many will choose a charter school. No entrenched bureaucracy or union should deny parents
that choice and children that opportunity.

If I am elected president, school choice for all who want it, an expansion of Opportunity Scholarships, and alternative certification for teachers will all be part of a serious agenda of education reform.

Offer more choices to those who wish to become teachers

Many highly qualified men and women have great knowledge, wisdom, and experience to offer public school students. But a monopoly on teacher certification prevents them from getting that chance. You can be a Nobel Laureate and not qualify to teach in most
public schools today. They don’t have the proper credits in educational “theory” or “methodology”--all they have is learning and the desire and ability to share it. If we’re putting the interests of students first, those qualifications should be enough.

Source: McCain-Obama speeches at 99th NAACP Convention
, Jul 12, 2008

Place parents & children at the center of education

We must fight for the ability of all students to have access to any school of demonstrated excellence.
We must place parents and children at the center of the education process, empowering parents by greatly expanding the ability of parents to choose among schools for their children.

We need more choice and competition in education

We need more choice & competition in education. Entrance by a good student into a college today, they have a number of choices and people are seeking them to be part of those educational institutions. We don’t have a choice & competition. We need it in K
through 12. We need more charter schools & vouchers approved by the local state and school boards. We need to have home-schooling if people want that. We need to reward good teachers and find bad teachers another line of work. In Arizona, we have charter
schools, some have failed, but they’re competing with the public schools, and the level of education is increasing. In New York City today, there are some remarkable things happening under Mayor Bloomberg, who has done marvelous work with an educational
system that was clearly broken. Those can be examples of a way to improve education, provide choice and competition, and give every family the same choice I and my family had, and that is to send our child to the school of our choice.

Charters, homeschooling, & vouchers are key to success

Q: How can we improve the quality of public schools in this country?

A: Choice and competition is the key to success in education in America.
That means charter schools, that means home schooling, it means vouchers, it means rewarding good teachers and finding bad teachers another line of work.
It means rewarding good performing schools, and it really means in some cases putting bad performing schools out of business. I want every American parent to have a choice, a choice as to how they want their child educated, and
I guarantee you the competition will dramatically increase the level of education in America. And I applaud our former Governor [Jeb] Bush for the great job he’s done on education in Florida and America.

Local charters are the best Arizona schools

Q: To combat the teachers unions you deplore, should we have federal standardized tests? A: You would agree with that if you believed that the power of the teachers unions cannot be broken. The teachers unions in my state fought tooth & nail against
charter schools. Yet we prevailed and the best schools in my state happen to be charter schools. I believe that it’s a serious mistake to allow some bureaucrat in Washington to decide about the standards to be set by the people of the state of Arizona.

Source: GOP debate in Los Angeles
, Mar 2, 2000

Let states decide if they link vouchers to student testing

McCain supports a program of federally financed vouchers, but states would decide individually whether to use standardized tests to make high-stakes decisions about who could get the vouchers. McCain’s proposal would create the most ambitious
voucher experiment yet, spending $5.5 billion over three years to present one million students with vouchers of up to $2,000 annually.To counter the argument that vouchers siphon money from public schools when students leave, McCain would create
a new source of financing: the tax money now spent as corporate subsidies.The senator has yet to define how the vouchers would be awarded, but he has said the poorest children in the worst schools would be immediately eligible.McCain’s
voucher proposals would probably face stiff opposition in Congress. Not only would the industries targeted by McCain fight to retain their share of subsidies, but the House, as recently as last fall, declined to consider a voucher proposal.

Source: New York Times
, Feb 29, 2000

Use sugar, oil, and ethanol subsidies to finance vouchers

Q: How much power should the federal government have over state education? A: Choice & competition are the key to the future of education in America. Students in America rank at the bottom in the most disciplines such as physics & chemistry.
We should try charter schools all over America. I would take the gas and oil, ethanol and sugar subsidies and take that money and put it into a test voucher program over three years to be used in every poor school district in every state in America.

Source: GOP Debate in Johnston, Iowa
, Jan 16, 2000

Tax breaks for charters - not from public school funds

I walked into a charter school classroom in Phoenix. On the desk was a children’s book of virtues. The teacher was teaching the virtue of the month, which happened to be the importance of telling the truth. We need to inject that in all of our charter
schools and in schools all over America. I would provide the much needed tax breaks that are necessary to encourage them. I would certainly make them part of any voucher program, a test voucher program which I would not take out of education funds.

Vouchers & charters will improve our school system

We have to have choice and competition in our schools in order to improve our school system, including charter schools, including a test voucher program that would be paid for with ethanol subsidies and with sugar subsidies. And in order
to make that system work, the test voucher program throughout America, we have to have good teachers, and I would argue that merit pay, rewards for good teachers and helping bad teachers find another line of work is the way we must go about it.

Source: Republican Debate at Dartmouth College
, Oct 29, 1999

Nationwide test of school vouchers

Our children deserve the best education we can provide to them, whether that learning takes place in a public, private or parochial school. It’s time to give middle and lower income parents the same right wealthier families have -- to send their child to
the school that best meets their needs. It’s time to conduct a nationwide test of school vouchers. It’s time to democratize education.

Source: Candidacy Declaration Speech, Nashua NH
, Sep 27, 1999

$5B program for 3-year test of school vouchers

McCain proposed a school voucher program to offer education opportunities for disadvantaged children, paid for by eliminating $5.4 billion worth of subsidies for ethanol, sugar, gas and oil. Under McCain’s three-year test program, disadvantaged children
would receive vouchers worth $2,000 a year. The money would be used to offset the costs of attending any school chosen by the student or parents. “We shouldn’t have special interest giveaways at the expense of our neediest children,” McCain said.

Source: Mike Glover, Associated Press
, Jul 29, 1999

Tax-funded vouchers for private schools or charter schools

McCain’s platform calls for a school voucher program that would give tax money to middle- and lower-income families to send their children to private schools. And he praised charter schools - publicly funded schools that often serve a specialized
curriculum and operate free from many government mandates.

Source: Associated Press
, Jun 14, 1999

Shift policy-making from bureaucrats to parents

McCain knows we can save public education if we “have the courage to do more than placate the defenders of the status quo.” McCain [supports] more money reaching our classrooms, increased financial flexibility for parents, greater choices for families,
and well-trained teachers. He [opposes] Washington bureaucrats and public education unions dictating education policies. He believes in letting parents, educators, and local communities make the important decisions about our children’s education.

Source: www.mccain2000.com/ “Position Papers” 5/24/99
, May 24, 1999

Vouchers needed where teachers fail

McCain believes school vouchers should be available to parents in order that they may place their children in the best learning environment for their particular needs. He feels that each and every child in every classroom deserves a teacher who is
qualified and enthusiastic about teaching. “Some people just aren’t meant to be teachers, and we should help them find another line of work. Because if teachers can’t teach, our kids can’t learn.”

Source: www.mccain2000.com/ “Position Papers” 5/24/99
, May 24, 1999

Vouchers for any schools; more charter schools

McCain supports the following principles concerning school choice:

Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any participating school: public, private or religious

Allow parents to use tax-free savings accounts to send their
children to any participating school: public, private or religious

Support creation of more charter schools where teachers and professionals receive authorization and funding to establish new schools

Source: 1998 National Political Awareness Test
, Jul 2, 1998

John McCain on Voting Record

Unrestricted block grants--let states decide spending

McCain would be reluctant to tie federal dollars to a school’s academic standing. But he seems intent on pleasing conservatives by extracting the federal government from most school-level spending decisions. McCain has said he would present
most federal education money to states in unrestricted block grants -- he would include an additional $500 million earmarked broadly for teachers’ merit pay -- and leave it to the states and districts to spend as they see fit.

Source: New York Times
, Feb 29, 2000

Voted NO on $52M for "21st century community learning centers".

To increase appropriations for after-school programs through 21st century community learning centers. Voting YES would increase funding by $51.9 million for after school programs run by the 21st century community learning centers and would decrease funding by $51.9 million for salaries and expenses in the Department of Labor.

Voted NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors.

Vote to authorize a federal program aimed at reducing class size. The plan would assist states and local education agencies in recruiting, hiring and training 100,000 new teachers, with $2.4 billion in fiscal 2002. This amendment would replace an amendment allowing parents with children at under-performing schools to use public funding for private tutors.

Voted NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors.

Vote to pass an amendment that would authorize $200 million to provide grants to help states develop assessment systems that describe student achievement. This amendment would replace an amendment by Jeffords, R-VT, which would allow parents with children at under-performing schools to use public funding for private tutors.

Voted NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction.

Vote to reduce the size of the $1.6 trillion tax cut by $448 billion while increasing education spending by $250 billion and providing an increase of approximately $224 billion for debt reduction over 10 years.

Vote to declare that erecting religious symbols and praying on public school campuses as part of a memorial service does not violate the First Amendment to the Constitution, and to provide legal assistance to any government entity defending such a case.

Voted YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules.

This vote was a motion to invoke cloture on a bill aimed at allowing states to waive certain federal rules normally required in order to use federal school aid. [A YES vote implies support of charter schools and vouchers].
Status: Cloture Motion Rejected Y)55; N)39; NV)6

Voted NO on national education standards.

Focus educational resources to help those with greatest need.

McCain adopted the Republican Main Street Partnership agenda item:

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) helps to fulfill the most basic mission of federal education programs—equal opportunity for all children. To help improve the federal role in education, the Republican Main Street Partnership has identified the following areas that should receive priority during the reauthorization of IDEA:

Focus resources to help those with the greatest need, particularly the disadvantaged and disabled

Target Title I funds, those specifically designed to aid disadvantaged students, to students with the greatest need

Although Title I funds are already allocated according to population and poverty, more funds must be targeted to our neediest schools. We propose funding, for the first time, grants that send at least a portion of Title I funds solely on the basis of need.

Increase the maximum award under Pell Grants to help first-generation & low-income students continue their education

Increase the maximum award for students
from low-income families to restore the balance between grants and loans, particularly among those with the greatest need.

Continue efforts to increase federal funding for IDEA to help states and locals offset the cost of providing a ëfree appropriate public educationí for students with special needs

Move federal funding toward its goal of providing up to 40 percent of the average cost of educating a disabled child.

In addition, we need to better evaluate the effectiveness of this program and ensure that federal funds for IDEA—particularly in light of recent funding increases—are being targeted to our students with real learning disabilities.

Finally and most important, any fiscal incentives must be examined to ensure that the overidentification of learning disabled students is prevented, and our efforts must focus on the regular evaluation of the program to ensure that our special needs children are truly being provided a "free appropriate public education."

Require state standards, regular assessments, and sanctions.

To help improve the federal role in education, the Republican Main Street Partnership has identified the following areas that should receive priority:

Require states to implement high standards of achievement in core subject areas, such as reading, math, writing, and science, for all students. Nearly all states have established high standards for education content in reading, writing and math. To continue to be eligible for Title I funds, we must ensure that states meet these standards.

Require states to demonstrate success in raising the performance of all students -- from those who score below basic to those who are already proficient -- and narrowing the gap between disadvantaged students and their more advantaged peers.Without regular assessments, we cannot determine how well students are achieving with respect to each state's performance goals. Although states are required to have assessments aligned with their content and performance
standards by the 2000-2001 school year, it now seems that no state will be approved in time. To continue to be eligible for Title I funds, states must continue to work toward this goal and waivers must be provided only for those who are making substantial progress toward the implementation of their aligned assessments.

Establish a meaningful system of rewards for schools that significantly increase student achievement and sanctions for those that fail.Schools that consistently fail to make progress toward their stateís own performance goals, after assistance and opportunity to improve, must be sanctioned with corrective actions ranging from the reconstitution of the school staff to the authorization of students to transfer to another public school. Schools that meet or exceed their performance goals should receive monetary awards through a new grant program designed to reward achievement.

Support Ed-Flex: more flexibility if more accountable.

To help improve the federal role in education, the Republican Main Street Partnership has identified the following areas that should receive priority:

Provide flexibility in exchange for increased accountability.

Encourage more states to take advantaged of the Education-Flexibility waiver to better align federal programs with state and local priorities.

Currently, 15 states have Ed-Flex authority and, according to GAO reports, the waiver authority promotes a climate that encourages state and local educators to explore new approaches to education. Ultimately, the states must make the decision to apply for the waiver, but education leaders must encourage states and schools to be innovative in their approach to education improvement.

Enact new legislation to give states the option to combine education programs and funding in exchange for demonstrated improvements in student achievement at all levels

In exchange for new flexibility, a participating state would have to show how it would combine and use funds to advance education priorities, improve student achievement and narrow the learning gap. If, after three years, the state has failed to meet its own requirements, the flexibility authority would be terminated and administrative funds would be withheld.

The National Education Association has a long, proud history as the nation's leading organization committed to advancing the cause of public education. Founded in 1857 "to elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching and to promote the cause of popular education in the United States," the NEA has remained constant in its commitment to its original mission as evidenced by the current mission statement:

To fulfill the promise of a democratic society, the National Education Association shall promote the cause of quality public education and advance the profession of education; expand the rights and further the interest of educational employees; and advocate human, civil, and economic rights for all.

In pursuing its mission, the NEA has determined that it will focus the energy and resources of its 2.7 million members toward the "promotion of public confidence in public education."
The ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.